In: Nursing
Assessing the adherence to medication and treatment plan shows the
health care providers the efficacy of the medications and also to
point out any problems in the treatment plan. Ways of assessing
adherence to medication and treatment plan are:
• Direct: the treatment regimen is directly observed by the health
care providers. For example TB treatment plan and also in assessing
blood levels in warfarin treatment.
• Indirect: Checking out the refill rates, pill counts, therapeutic
response, self report.
Steps to teach to adhere to medication and treatment plan:
• Educate the patients regarding the treatment and it’s
benefits.
• Build up a strong rapport and relationship with the patients so
that they can interact easily with the health care provider.
• Build up a good communication between the prescribed and the
pharmacists.
• Learn about different ways to detect adherence
• Meet the patient's preferences
• Schedule appointments
• Coordinate for medication refills for the patients
• Keep a check if the patients are refilling their medication every
month on the same date.